New England Revolution Partner with Sporting CP

Major League Soccer (MLS) team New England Revolution and Portuguese giants Sporting Clube de Portugal, also known as Sporting CP, announced Wednesday that they have entered a multiple-year strategic partnership which will result in shared expertise, benefit and promotion for each club. 

Revolution president Brian Bilello and general manager Michael Burns were in Lisbon on Wednesday for the formal announcement and said they are delighted with the agreement that marks the MLS side’s first international club partnership.

“We’re very excited to partner with a club with such history and prestige as Sporting Clube de Portugal,” Bilello said in a statement released by New England. “The opportunity to not only partner on activities to improve our first team, but also to work with their prestigious academy on youth development, will benefit our club for many years. We will also assist Sporting in their efforts to explore opportunities to increase Sporting’s reach within the United States, both on and off the field.”

“Sporting has been one of the most consistent and successful programs in Europe, and we’re looking forward to working with their staff to share best practices, player talent and scouting resources,” Burns said in the same statement. “Both clubs have been recognized for our youth development programs, and we’re anticipating a tremendous shared benefit by this partnership.”